Dual line protractor for biometric measurements

ABSTRACT

A dual line protractor fixed to a central axis which has two housings, each housing having a spool with retractable lines, the housings and spools being rotatably attached to the central axis. The spools and housings rotate independently of each other on the central axis. The lines can be extended from the spools and the tips of the lines are attached to anatomical landmarks on first and second body members. The protractor is placed on a joint between the first and second body members. The lines extend from the spools and housings over degree marks on the protractor. The difference between the degree marks provide the angle between the body members at the joint. The application of the dual line protractor for these measurements is simple and rapid, requiring only a few minutes, so that the range of motion of several joints with several repeat measurements can be performed in a relatively short period of time. Placing the tips of the lines on anatomical landmarks produces remarkable accuracy and precision in the measurement of joint angles. Because string-like lines are used to indicate the degree marks, the dual line protractor does not interfere with the natural motion of the body member being measured, allowing accurate dynamic joint angle measurement.

REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

The present patent application is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/244,309, filed on Oct. 5, 2005, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,293,363, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to goniometers for measuring anglesbetween body members and, more particularly, to a dual line protractorto measure the angle between two body members at a joint between themembers at any desired orientation between the members.

2. Technical Background

The range of motion of a body joint is commonly measured to determinethe presence and extent of joint abnormalities or the degree of healingand recovery from joint injuries. After a joint related injury a patientis often directed to limit the range of motion of a joint. Success ofphysical therapy and recovery is typically evaluated by improved rangesof motion of the injured joint. Goniometers are known which are adaptedfor measuring the range of motion of flexing joints such as knees,ankles, wrists, shoulders, hips, fingers, and the like. Earlygoniometers consisted of protractors with one fixed arm and one moveablearm. These devices were cumbersome, unreliable, and difficult to mount.They could interfere with the motion of the limb they were intended tomeasure and were not particularly useful. More recent devices usingelectronic means of measuring angular relationships suffer from similarproblems. Some devices use a beam of energy, such as infrared light froma light emitting diode, reflectors, and detectors such as transistors.These electronic devices are complex, expensive, and can suffer fromlack of accuracy and precision due to variations in the direction of theenergy beam or consistent detection of an energy beam.

Protractors with chalk lines are known to mark lines at a given angle.These devices are accurate and precise over relatively long distances.They are easy to use, simple in construction, and inexpensive. Anotheradvantage of these devices is that they use string lines which conformto irregularities of a surface without affecting precision or accuracyin setting an angle. However, they have not been adaptable asgoniometers to measure angles of body members. What is needed is a lineprotractor that will measure body limb or member angles with the sameease and accuracy as obtained with protractor chalk lines that setangles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a dual line protractor in which the protractoris fixed to a central axis. Two housings are rotatably connected to thecentral axis. In each housing is a spool that is also rotatablyconnected to the central axis. The spools are wound with retractablelines, with the spools being biased to retract the lines. The linesextend through a hollow guide attached to each housing. As the linesextend from the housing they pass over a degree mark on the protractor.Each housing with its spool rotates independently of the other housingand its spool. The tip of a first line can be attached to an anatomicallandmark on a first body member, the tip of a second line can beattached to an anatomical landmark on a second body member, and theprotractor can be placed over the joint between the two body members.The protractor can be rotated so that the first line extends over anydesired first degree mark. As the second body member is positioned asdesired relative to the first body member, the second line will extendover a second degree mark on the protractor. The difference between thefirst degree mark and the second degree mark provides the angle betweenthe two members at the joint between them.

An advantage of the present invention is a simple dual line protractorthat measures body joint angles with excellent precision and accuracy.

Another advantage is a dual line protractor that measures body jointangles quickly and easily.

Another advantage is a dual line protractor that can measure the extentof joint rotation of most body joints.

Another advantage is a dual line protractor that can measure any jointangle as the relative positions of two body members sharing the samejoint move with respect to each other.

Another advantage is the ability to measure dynamic joint angles inaddition to static joint angles.

Another advantage is that the tip of the line can be attached directlyto a specific anatomical landmark on a body member, producing remarkableaccuracy and precision in the measurement of angles between theanatomical landmarks and between the body members.

Another advantage is a dual line protractor that is sturdy andinexpensive to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the dual line protractor of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show side views of the dual line protractor.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate the use of the dual line protractor tomeasure angles between body members at a joint between the body members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the following description details the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, it is to be understood that invention is not limitedin its application to the details of construction and arrangement of theparts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the dual line protractor 10 of the presentinvention. The protractor 11 has degree marks 12 typical of protractorsknown in the art. The protractor 11 is, preferably, a 360 degreeprotractor. Protractor 11 is fixed to a central axis 13. Behindprotractor 11 is a first circular housing 14 which is attached rotatablyto the central axis 13. A first spool 15 is inside first housing 14 andfirst spool 15 is also attached rotatably to the central axis 13. Afirst line 16 is wound around first spool 15. First spool 15 is biasedto retract or rewind first line 16 onto first spool 15, by mechanismswell known in the art, such as, for example, by a spring mechanism (notshown) connected to first spool 15 and central axis 13. A secondcircular housing 17 with a second spool 18 having a second line 19 isbehind first circular housing 14, which can be seen in FIG. 2 a. Firsthousing 14 has a hollow guide 20 through which first line 16 can extendand second housing 17 has a hollow guide 21 through which second line 19can extend. As lines 16 and 19 extend through guides 20 and 21 they passover a degree mark 12 on protractor 11. The protractor 11 can be rotatedto position any desired degree mark at one of the lines. The differencein degrees between the degree marks over which the lines 16 and 19 arepositioned provides the angle formed by lines 16 and 19.

FIG. 2 a shows a side view of the dual line protractor 10. The positionof second housing 17 relative to first housing 14 can be seen in thisfigure. Second circular housing 17 is also attached rotatably to thecentral axis 13. A second spool 18 is inside second housing 17 andsecond spool 18 is also attached rotatably to the central axis 13. Asecond line 19 is wound around second spool 18. Second spool 18 is alsobiased to retract or rewind second line 19 onto second spool 18, similarto first spool 15. First housing 14, first spool 15, second housing 17,second spool 18 rotate independently of each other on central axis 13.The tip of first line 16 has an attachment means 23 and the tip ofsecond line 19 has an attachment means 24. The attachment means 23 and24 prevent lines 16 and 19 from being completely retracted onto spools15 and 18, and allow attachment of lines 16 and 19 to body members.

FIG. 2 b shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Thehollow guides 50 and 51 can be angled towards protractor 11 so thatlines 16 and 19 are brought closer to the degree marks on protractor 11.The dual line protractor 40 of this embodiment can have a base 52opposite protractor 11 with housings 14 and 17 positioned in betweenprotractor 11 and base 52. Base 52 is fixed to axis 13, similar toprotractor 11. Base 52 can have an attachment means 53, such as, forexample, a hook and pile arrangement, to provide more secure attachmentof dual line protractor 40 to a body area or joint. The hook or pileelement 53 can have an adhesive to hold the element securely to the bodyarea or joint. Base 52 is particularly useful when a more secureattachment is needed for certain measurements, such as, for example,dynamic joint angle measurements. Using dual line protractor 40, themovements of the lines 16 and 19 across degree marks 12 as a patientmoves a body member can be recorded with photographic and/or videodevices known in the art. The rate and extent of joint angle movementcan be calculated from these recordings by methods known in the art.

The various elements of the present invention can be constructed of anysuitable materials, but the protractor 11, housings 14 and 17, and thespools 15 and 18 are, preferably, made of clear plastic so that lines 16and 19 can be easily visualized. The dual line protractor can be made inany suitable size and thickness.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate an example of the use of the dual lineprotractor 10 to measure angles between body members at a joint betweenthe body members. The view of the patient is from above, showing thepatient's head 30, a first body member (the left shoulder) 31, rightshoulder 32, a second body member (the right arm) 33, and right wrist34. In FIG. 3 a attachment means 23 at the tip of first line 16 isattached to an anatomical landmark position on left shoulder 31.Attachment means 24 at the tip of second line 19 is attached to ananatomical landmark position on right wrist 34. Protractor 11 is placedon right shoulder 32 (joint). Protractor 11 is rotated so that firstdegree mark 35 is at first line 16 and is zero degrees. Right arm 33 isextended as far right as possible so that, in this case, second line 19is at second degree mark 36 which is 200 degrees. Thus, the anglebetween the left shoulder 31 and the right arm 33 in this instance is200 degrees. In FIG. 3 b the right arm 33 is moved towards the leftshoulder 31 as close as possible so that, in this case, second line 19is at third degree mark 37 which is 20 degrees. Thus, the angle betweenthe left shoulder 31 and the right arm 33 in this instance is 20degrees. The complete range of motion of the right arm 33 at the rightshoulder joint 32, relative to the left shoulder 31, is 180 degrees (200degrees minus 20 degrees). The application of the dual line protractor10 for these measurements is simple and rapid, requiring only a fewminutes, so that the range of motion of several joints with severalrepeat measurements can be performed in a relatively short period oftime. A major advantage of the present invention is that the tip of theline can be attached directly to a specific anatomical landmark on abody member, producing remarkable accuracy and precision in themeasurement of angles between the anatomical landmarks and between thebody members. Because string-like lines are used to indicate the degreemarks, the dual line protractor 10 does not interfere with the naturalmotion of the body member being measured, allowing accurate dynamicjoint angle measurement. As noted above, the movements of the lines 16and 19 across degree marks 12, as patient moves a body member, can berecorded with photographic and/or video devices, and the rate and extentof joint angle movement can be measured from these recordings by methodsknown in the art.

The foregoing description has been limited to specific embodiments ofthis invention. It will be apparent, however, that variations andmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the disclosedembodiments of the invention, with the attainment of some or all of itsadvantages and without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. For example, the lines can be made of any suitablematerial such as string, twine, plastic, and the like. The lines canhave distance markings on them, such as inches or centimeters. One ofthe housings can be fixed to the central axis. A handle can be fixed tothe protractor to facilitate holding it in place, or attachment meanscan be fixed to the protractor to attach it to a body member or joint.The protractor may encompass only a semi-circle. The dual lineprotractor can be used to measure the angles between any two points onany other objects besides body members.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials,and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustratedabove in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scopeof the invention as recited in the following claims.

1. A method for measuring angles between body members, comprising thesteps of: 1) providing a dual line protractor, wherein said dual lineprotractor comprises a protractor fixed to a central axis and havingdegree marks on its circumference, a first spool having a firstretractable line rotatably mounted within a first housing on saidcentral axis, and a second spool having a second retractable linerotatably mounted within a second housing on said central axis, whereinsaid first and second housings are rotatably mounted on said centralaxis so as to rotate relative to said protractor, and wherein said firstand second lines are extendable from said first and second housingsacross said degree marks on said protractor; 2) attaching a tip of saidfirst line to an anatomical landmark on a first body member, andattaching a tip of said second line to an anatomical landmark on asecond body member; 3) placing said protractor on a joint between thefirst body member and the second body member; 4) measuring a firstdegree mark over which said first line extends on said protractor; 5)measuring a second degree mark over which said second line extends onsaid protractor, with the second body member at any desired positionrelative to the first body member; and 6) measuring an angle between thesecond body member and the first body member at the joint by calculatingthe difference in degrees between said first degree mark and said seconddegree mark.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said housings and saidspools rotate independently from each other on said central axis, andsaid retractable lines indicate angles as said retractable lines extendacross said degree marks.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein each of saidhousings has a guide to guide a retractable line out of or into saidhousing as said line is extended from or retracted onto said spool,wherein each of said guides extends across said degree marks.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said spools are biased to retract said linesonto said spools.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said dual lineprotractor further comprises guides angled towards said protractor. 6.The method of claim 1 wherein said dual line protractor furthercomprises a base fixed to said axis, wherein said housings arepositioned between said base and said protractor, and said base isparallel to said protractor.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprisingthe step of rotating said protractor so that said first line or saidsecond line extends over any desired degree mark on said protractor. 8.A method for measuring dynamic joint angles between body members,comprising the steps of: 1) providing a dual line protractor, whereinsaid dual line protractor comprises a protractor fixed to a central axisand having degree marks on its circumference, a first spool having afirst retractable line rotatably mounted within a first housing on saidcentral axis, a second spool having a second retractable line rotatablymounted within a second housing on said central axis, and a base,wherein said first and second housings are rotatably mounted on saidcentral axis so as to rotate relative to said protractor, and whereinsaid first and second lines are extendable from said first and secondhousings across said degree marks on said protractor; 2) attaching a tipof said first line to an anatomical landmark on a first body member, andattaching a tip of said second line to an anatomical landmark on asecond body member; 3) attaching said base of said dual line protractoron a joint between the first body member and the second body member; 4)moving the second body member relative to the first body member; and 5)recording the movement of said second line across marks on saidprotractor as the second body member is moved relative to the first bodymember.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said housings and said spoolsrotate independently from each other on said central axis, and saidretractable lines indicate angles as said retractable lines extendacross said degree marks.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein each of saidhousings has a guide to guide a retractable line out of or into saidhousing as said line is extended from or retracted onto said spool,wherein each of said guides extends across said degree marks.
 11. Themethod of claim 8 wherein said spools are biased to retract said linesonto said spools.
 12. The method of claim 8 wherein said dual lineprotractor further comprises guides angled towards said protractor. 13.The method of claim 8 wherein said dual line protractor furthercomprises a base fixed to said axis, wherein said housings arepositioned between said base and said protractor, and said base isparallel to said protractor.
 14. The method of claim 8 furthercomprising the step of rotating said protractor so that said first lineor said second line extends over any desired degree mark on saidprotractor.
 15. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of recording isperformed using photographic and/or video techniques.
 16. A method formeasuring angles between body members, comprising the steps of: 1)providing a dual line protractor, wherein said dual line protractorcomprises a protractor fixed to a central axis and having degree markson its circumference, a first spool having a first retractable linerotatably mounted on said central axis, and a second spool having asecond retractable line rotatably mounted on said central axis, whereinsaid first and second lines are extendable from said first and secondspools across said degree marks on said protractor; 2) attaching a tipof said first line to an anatomical landmark on a first body member, andattaching a tip of said second line to an anatomical landmark on asecond body member; 3) placing said protractor on a joint between thefirst body member and the second body member; 4) measuring a firstdegree mark over which said first line extends on said protractor; 5)measuring a second degree mark over which said second line extends onsaid protractor, with the second body member at any desired positionrelative to the first body member; and 6) measuring an angle between thesecond body member and the first body member at the joint by calculatingthe difference in degrees between said first degree mark and said seconddegree mark.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said spools rotateindependently from each other on said central axis, and said retractablelines indicate angles as said retractable lines extend across saiddegree marks.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein said spools are biasedto retract said lines onto said spools.
 19. The method of claim 16wherein said dual line protractor further comprises a base fixed to saidaxis, wherein said spools are positioned between said base and saidprotractor, and said base is parallel to said protractor.
 20. The methodof claim 16 further comprising the step of rotating said protractor sothat said first line or said second line extends over any desired degreemark on said protractor.